Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Allen of MES Indian school has been asked to interview the Minister for Environment and Forests about the world's first zero - carbon city. Here is an extract of the taped interview. Write a short report in the given space.
Allen : It’s remarkable! A city of fifty thousand people and no cars!
Minister : I agree with you. Masdar city in Abu Dhabi will be the world’s first zero- carbon city.
Allen : How will you achieve this?
Minister : Our city will soon run entirely on renewable energy, including solar panels to trap the abundant resources offered by the desert sun.
Allen : So, you will be a shining model for other Governments. Congratulations, Sir.
Minister : Thank you. We are investing in our future. You may wonder how people would go about the city, don’t you?
Allen : I have wondered about it, Sir.
Minister : Our futuristic city will have people moving about in automated pods.
Allen : It’s unbelievable. Forgive me if I find it so fantastic.
Minister : Our Government assures you that this unique city will be ready for people to settle in by 2015. It will have a light railway line, transport pods and no carbon footprints.
Allen : We need air conditioners, don’t we? It’s impossible to live without them here.
Minister : Masdar city will take full advantage of the sea breezes. The city will have a perimeter wall that will protect it from the hot air.
Allen : I wish other countries could plan their expansion in this way.
Minister : In addition to what I have mentioned earlier, the city will be protected from the noise of the nearby Abu Dhabi Airport.
Uae plans futuristic city
by Allen Kuwana
The Zero-Carbon City Project, initiated by the government of the United Arab Emirates, is a milestone in mankind’s efforts to save its planet from the ravages of climate change. The Minister for Environment and Forests, Abu Dhabi, assures our readers that __________________
Advertisements
Solution
The Zero-Carbon City Project, initiated by the government of the United Arab Emirates, is a milestone in mankind’s efforts to save its planet from the ravages of climate change. The Minister for Environment and Forests, Abu Dhabi, assures our readers that their city will run entirely on renewable energy, including solar panels to trap the abundant resources offered by the desert sun. The Minister told this reporter that their futuristic city would have people moving about in automated pods. When this reporter won-dered at such an unbelievable happening the Minister assured him that the unique city would be ready for people to settle in by 2015. The city would have a light railway line, transport pods and no carbon footprints. The Minister was told that air conditioners were needed as it was impossible to live without them. He replied that the city would take full advantage of the sea breezes. It would have a perimeter wall that would protect it from the hot air. Hearing him, this reporter wished other countries could plan their expansion in that way. The Minis¬ter concluded that the city would be protected from the noise of the nearby Abu Dhabi Airport.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Here are some direct quotations from the story. Identify the speaker and write what each quotation suggests about the speaker. You can use the adjectives given in the box and may also add your own.
| amiable, tender, gentle, sympathetic, understanding, determined, diligent, kind, concerned, systematic, wise, helpful, enthusiastic, selfish, cruel, humble, religious, prudent |
| Speaker | Quotation | Quality Highlighted | |
|
a. |
'Avva, is everything all right? Are you O.K.?' |
||
| b. | 'At times, I used to regret not going to school, so I made sure that my children and grandchildren studied well.' |
||
| c. | 'Avva, don't cry. What is the matter? Can I help you in anyway?' |
||
| d. | 'We are well-off, but what use is money when I cannot be independent.' | ||
| e. | 'I will keep Saraswati Pooja day during Dassara as the deadline.' | ||
| f. | 'For a good cause if you are determined you can overcome any obstacle.' | ||
| g. | I am touching the feet of a teacher not my granddaughter.' |
Answer the following question:
How did Harold come to know that his father was a boxer?
Answer the following question briefly.
One day last summer the author was travelling to Pittsburg by chair car. What does he say about his co-passengers?
Answer the following questions:
How many hills and bridges does the brook pass during its journey?
List common dilemmas that teenagers face involving the choice of one or more “roads”. Give examples of “roads” that you must travel (e.g. facing peer pressure, choosing friends, observing rules laid down by school and parents, acting on your own values).
Answer the following question briefly.
Does the speaker seem happy about his decision?
'The Road Not Taken' is a biographical poem. Therefore, some personal
biographical information is relevant for the deeper understanding of the poem
we have read. Go to www.encarta.com and complete the following worksheet
about Robert Frost.
a) What "momentous decision" was made by Frost in 1912?
b) How old was he when took that decision?
c) Why was it so difficult to take that decision? Think and give more than one reason.
d) Was the "road" taken by Frost an easy one "to travel"?
e) Do you think he wrote "The Road Not Taken" before sailing from the USA to
England or after? Can you quote a line or two from the poem that can support your
answer?
f) Do you think Frost finally became popular in America as a poet?
Answer the following question.
a) "…But up-and-down brushin'
And pokin' and fussin'
Didn't seem worth the time-I could bite!"
What do these lines convey?
Toothache
Doki : Oh! I'm in agony. I didn't sleep a wink last night!
Moki : Why don't you go to a dentist?
Doki : Even thinking about the dentist's waiting room gives me the willies.
Moki : It's because you haven't been to a dentist for ages.
Doki: What a reassuring person you are!
Moki : I'm now going to get Mom. She'll only crack the whip and make you go to the
dentist.
Doki: No, No! I'd better go with you. At least you'd save me from going into the surgery.
Moki : I can only take the horse to the water but I can't make it drink! I'm sure, you're going
to turn tail and go home.
Doki: Don't worry, I shall be led quietly into the dentist like a lamb because my tooth is so
sore.
Moki : If that happens, I would believe that wonders will never cease!
Doki: I wish I had taken proper care of my teeth!
Moki : I wish you had paid attention to the discipline that Mom had laid for all of us!
Doki: Yeah! But past can't be undone. I have to reap what I had sown.
Your teacher will read out the conversation between Doki and his
sister, Moki. As you listen complete the idioms and expressions listed below.(GIVEN ABOVE)
1. sleep…...….............………….
2. ………....……….me the willies
3. crack the…………..............….
4. take the……………….to water
5. …………...................…….tail.
6. wonders will……….........…….
7. ……………….can't be undone.
8. reap what I …………………….
Idioms are metaphorical expressions rather than literal. For example 'give someone
the willies' does not simply mean 'to handover something called willies to someone',
but 'to make someone feel nervous'. It is important for learners of English to
understand them and be able to use them.
Answer the following question briefly.
Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
The last part of the extract that you have just heard is given below. Notice
how the author creates interest through a step-by-step organisation of his ideas.
| Within the diamond haze of the beach, something dark was fumbling along. Ralph saw it first and watched until the intentness of his gaze drew all eyes that way. Then the creature stepped from the mirage on to clear sand and they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing. The creature was a party of boys marching approximately in step falling on two parallel lines. |
The author uses these words to create an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. The 'something' becomes clearer ... clearer still .... until finally we learn what it really is. |
Now write three situations similar to (a) in the box. Exchange the information with your partner and guess the answer to each other's situations as in (b).
Question 1.
My dog is barking angrily and is trying to get loose.
Question 2.
The car is making a curious noise.
Question 3.
Satish enters breathing heavily.
Satish enters breathing heavily.
(4)
Fill in the blanks :
1. The next generation is not likely to see the tiger because of _________________________
2. ________________ laws against poachers must be enforced.
3. The responsibility of protection of the tiger lies with the ___________________
4. One of the reasons for Tiger becoming extinct is _______________
5. Destroying nature means ________________
6. ___________________ , ________________ ,and _______________ are different types of tigers.
7. ______________ is a wild life conservation project.
8. Tigers are found in the evergreen and monsoon forests of the ______________
9. Though tigers are mostly nocturnal, __________ species may also be active during the day.
10. The body length of the tiger is _______________ cm.
Choose the correct answer and fill in the blanks:
(a) Cars enable you to reach any place you want. ____________ , they pose parking problems in the cities.
(b) I prefer writing __________
(c) He fell ___________ the ladder.
(d) John, as well as his younger brothers, _________ going abroad for further studies.
(e) You’d better take a taxi. ___________ , you’ll arrive late.
(f) It’s not a very good job. _____________ it’s something to start with.
| (a) (i) However (ii) Although (iii) Despite (iv) So that |
(b) (i) on (ii) in (iii) by (iv) with |
| (c) (i) on (ii) out (iii) of (iv) off |
(d) (i) is (ii) are (iii) have (iv) been |
| (e) (i) However (ii) Consequently (iii) Furthermore (iv) Otherwise |
(f) (i) Besides (ii) Moreover (iii) On the other hand (iv) But |
Fill in the table to identify the subject, verb and object in the sentences listed above. You may include the object/agent where necessary.
| Subject | Verb | Object |
| Kareena’s hometown |
had not been invaded |
(by) the marvels of technology. |
| Industries | ___________ Was not polluted |
__________ __________ |
| Stories | __________ | __________ |
Did you know?
A passive construction does two things.
(i) it brings the object to the position of the subject.
(ii) it introduces the verb be and the past participle form of the verb. (-ed/ -en)
A passive construction is be used when
(a) the agent is unknown
e.g. Gold jewellery worth one crore was found missing.
(b) the agent is too obvious
e.g. The speeding car was stopped at the signal for violating the traffic rules.
(c) the process is more important than the doer.
e.g. Vanilla flavour is added to the milkshake.
(d) the speaker wants to hide the source for confidentiality.
e.g. I was informed that the staff accept gifts from the customers.
Write a magazine article about both the boys, in which you bring out the similarities and differences in their lives. Use the table you completed in Question 3. Give your article a suitable title. Remember 'CODER'.
Organise your article like this
Paragraph 1 : Give their names and ages. Compare their families, parents and backgrounds.
Paragraph 2 : Compare how each spends a typical day and their recreation/ hobbies.
Paragraph 3 : Compare their hopes / dreams / ambitions and your assessment of their future.
Choose the right word from the options given below and fill in the blanks.
(а) The weekly forecast says that I _________ an old friend this week.
(b) I have to catch the 5.00 am train tomorrow. So, I _________ go to bed late tonight.
(c) The casualties _________ to a nearby hospital.
(d) The majority of the news _________ about violence.
| (a) (i) will meet (ii) meet (iii) am meeting (iv) ought to meet |
(b) (i) have to (ii) needn’t (iii) may (iv) mustn’t |
| (c) (i) was taken (ii) were taken (iii) taken (iv) took |
(d) (i) are (ii) is (iii) has (iv) have |
Ravi has a problem, so he asks his friends for advice. Read the conversation below and underline the expressions that are used for giving advice. (This could be done as role-play)
Ravi : My neighbours play very loud music, which disturbs me when I'm studying.
Mohan: Why don't you try persuading them to turn down the volume?
Shiela: If that doesn't work you could think of changing your study time.
Rahim: Why should Ravi have to do that? He really ought to report such antisocial behaviour to the police.
Shiela: Before taking drastic action like that, I would advise you to sort it out amicably with your neighbours.
Rahim: If l were you, I would play my music even louder!
Mohan: That won't solve his problem. Ravi, I think you should ask your father to take it up with your neighours.
The following are the lyrics of a famous song. Complete it by filling in the missing letters (mostly vowels).
There c_m_s a time.
When we h __ d a certain call
When the w __ ld must come t_g_th_r
As one
There are p _ _ple d_ing
Oh and it's time
To l_nd a h_nd to l_fe
The gr __ test gift of all
Wec_n't go on 
Pr_t_nding day by day
Th_t s_me_ne, somewhere
Will s __ n make a change
We are all a p __ t of
God's gr __ t big f_m_ly
And thetr_th,youknow
L_ ve is all we n __ d
W_ are the world
We are the ch_ldr_n
We are the _nes
To m __ e a br ___ ter day
So l_t's st __ t g_ving
There's a ch __ ce we're m_king
We're s_ving our own l_ves
It's tr __ wemake a b_tterday
J_st y __ andme
W _11, send them your h __ rt
So they kn__ that s_me_ne cares
And th __ r lives wll be str_nger
And fr __
As G_d has sh_wn us
By t __ ning stone to br __ d
And so we _11 must
L-nd a h_lping h_nd
We are the world ...
We're d_wn and __ t
And there s __ ms no h_pe at all
Butify __ justbel __ ve
There's no w_y we can f_ll
Ohyes, let's r __ lise
That ch_nge can only c_me
When we st_nd t_g_ther
As one
We are the world ...
Each student will now complete his/her half of the following table (Hockey or Football), by adding information from the text each has read.
| Hockey | Football | |
| Ball : | ||
| Playing Area: | ||
| Duration : | ||
| Judging : | ||
| Penalties : | ||
| Penalty Area : | ||
| Cards : |
